A Senior Government Minister believes that Grenada's development is in jeopardy. That sentiment came from Education and Labour Minister, Mrs. Claris Charles while declaring open a one-day consultation on creating a policy framework for developing sexual harassment legislation in Grenada.

The consultation was organised by the Grenada National Organization of Women (GNOW). Minister Charles questioned the society that is being built on the island when women accept violence in their homes, as well as being harassed at work, and the abuse of their children at home.

She said there is need for the public-at-large to become more aware of what is happening around them through education."We do not have a public that would inform on those things. Everything they hide it. So a woman is sexually harassed, she goes home, she tells her friend and that's it. A woman is abused she accepts it because she is emotionally dependant," she said.

"We have to have a highly educated... well informed, and motivated public who will determine what they are going to do when those laws are broken. And that education has to be continuous," she added.

The female government minister said that the issue of sexual harassment crosses many boundaries which have legal, educational and social implications. She pointed out that issues such as sexual harassment, domestic violence, and incest and rape impact on education in the society. Sexual harassment, she noted occur at work places, educational institutions, and on public transportation.

Minister Charles spoke of sexual harassment being more prevalent on the job with bosses or supervisors who are male persons. However, she was quick to point out that there are instances where females are also guilty of sexual harassment.

The Government Minister said she was not making any wild speculation, or speaking out of hearsay, but gave an example of a 20-year old young man who brought the issue of him being sexually harassed by a woman who is twice time his age to her attention.

Minister Charles referred to one way in which sexual harassment can create serious consequences at the educational level. She said the dismissal of a woman who has been sexually harassed would impact negatively on the children she has to feed. This, she added would impact negatively on the education system and the development of the country.

The female government minister who also holds the portfolio of Legal Affairs Minister believes that legislation alone will not help to curb the situation. She said that while she welcomes legislation, structures will have to be implemented to enforce the legislation.

She acknowledged that there is a perception that sexual harassment is difficult to define and that there is a "thin line" between sexual harassment and genuine affection. She explained that in the Caribbean people have that notion of touching each other, but it can be mislead into believing that it is genuine affection.

"If I grew up in a hugging, hugging family, I might even mistake it (sexual harassment) at first, thinking that the person is just affectionate. And if I grew up in a family where no one touches, then any touching might be regarded by me as a harassment, so therefore, one has to be very careful," she said."So when we are defining sexual harassment, make sure it encompasses all the different gender issues," she added.

Minister Charles stressed that sexual harassment implies a lack of respect for women, and that a woman is a man's property, whether or not they are in a married relationship, especially when she has to rely on him for financial support. She said that prostitution can be the end result when women are forced into such a submission.

The Legal Affairs Minister said it must be ensured that whatever sexual harassment legislation that is designed is in sync with other developed countries "so that our women are protected." She admonished GNOW to work along with the Ministry of Education with respect to incest and rape.

She said that whereas there is outcry against sexual harassment and violence, incest is hardly ever spoken about. The Education Minister drew reference to the strangulation to death last month of ten-year old Tahira Roberts from Upper Capital, St. Andrew's which resulted from a case of incest. Her uncle, Alvin Roberts is facing a charge of murder.

Charles said that through her involvement as an educator and a trade unionist, she has come to recognise that the issue of incest is not only prone to persons who are not strong financially."I have dealt with incest with persons up there (at the economic bracket), teachers who you think should know better, and down there (at the economic bracket). So it goes across the whole societal divide, and it is a rather sad thing," she said.

The Lady Minister issued a call teachers to become creative in their lessons by creating an awareness of the children that they teach that the societal problems of physical abuse, sexual harassment and incest are wrong. She also made an appeal for people to become knowledgeable about foster care.

She impressed upon GNOW and other Non-Governmental Organisations the need to conduct a massive national programme on foster care. Minister Charles said that while there are many families who are willing to accept a child in need of foster care, they do not know what are the criteria involved.

The Education Minister painted a painful picture of children who are seeking to have a stable home, especially on the weekends. She stated that some children are sent to the Ministry of Education on Fridays by teachers who are seeking a home for them to stay for the weekend.

These children, she said who are physically, sexually and mentally abused by their own parents, are unable to learn under those conditions. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development,  Gemma Bain Thomas who also addressed the consultation echoed the sentiments of Minister Charles that men are also sexually harassed.

Bain-Thomas said that combatting sexual harassment is vital to ensure the dignity of women and men at the work place."Men suffer sexual harassment too, and should have the same rights as women to the protection of their dignity," she said.

According to Bain-Thomas, it is her ministry's intention to ensure that sexual harassment does not occur, and that where it occurs to ensure that adequate procedures are readily available to deal with the problem and prevent its recurrence.

Bain-Thomas encouraged all stake holders to actively participate and pursue the development and implementation of policies and practices which establish working environments free of sexual harassment and in which women and men can respect each other.